This morning in North Carolina, it is cool, dark, and rainy. Still, I know that Spring is here. This month I have been studying Persian mythology with the students of my literature classes. In the Persian, now Iranian, culture, the New Year, called Nowruz, occurs on March 21. The picture above displays a typical Nowruz … More Did You Hear that Winter’s Over?
At 5:30 PM this evening (Tuesday, January 19), the National League of Cities is organizing a national recognition for the victims of COVID-19. Cities across the country, including our local city of Raleigh, will be lighting building in the color of amber in memory of the nearly 400,000 lives lost during the pandemic. Places of … More Amber Hour This Evening to Honor COVID Victims
Notes on the Spring Holidays, III, [Hanukkah]Charles Reznikoff – 1894-1976IIIHanukkah In a world where each man must be of useand each thing useful, the rebellious Jewslight not one light but eight—not to see by but to look at. From The Complete Poems of Charles Reznikoff. Copyright © 1976 by Charles Reznikoff. Used by permission of … More Meatless Mondays: Hanukkah Edition
For all of us who are living under quarantine or governmentally-mandated stay-at-home orders, there is still something we can do today to demonstrate our commitment to the environment. At 8:30 local time on Saturday, March 28, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other conservation organizations are asking for businesses and individual to turn off all … More Turn off your lights at 8:30 PM tonight for Earth Hour
Here is another inspiring quote from one of the masters, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This was something that he wrote when he was in prison from the non-violent civil disobedience of the Montgomery bus boycott and delivered in another “Love Thy Enemy” service in 1957. Let us move now from the practical how to … More Third Day of Love: WHY Love Your Enemies?
My last blog post was about comedy, but this one is about tragedy. Because as much as I’m committed to bliss, that doesn’t mean ignoring the pain and sadness related to events that produce international grieving. I’m referring, of course, to the May 22nd suicide bombing of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena, England. … More What Do We Tell Our Children?
I am SO excited, because I just found out that one of my favorite unusual art forms will be on display this weekend in Raleigh, NC! On May 19-21, downtown Raleigh will be host to one of its biggest annual art festivals, Artsplosure. As usual, Artsplosure will feature all varieties of the arts: visual arts, … More Bliss Central for Triangle NC This Weekend is Katena
Are you someone who thinks that mediation requires silence and eyes closed to any outside stimulation to be effective? Or have you ever tried meditating to music? How about meditating to techno music: the fast-tempo, rhythmic, electronic music more commonly associated with the disco than with states of contemplation? Well, that is what Japanese Buddhist priest … More Meditation Monday: Ever Try Techno?
While many are celebrating the inauguration of our new President this week, others fear that it will be a dark time for many, especially some minority or disempowered populations. The theater community is inviting people to show their support for ALL people by participating in The Ghostlight Project. A ghost light is a term … More Be a Light with the Ghostlight Project
